Linanthus dichotomus
Evening snow
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Polemoniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Linanthus dichotomus (Evening snow) is a native California herb in the Polemoniaceae family, recognized by large evening flowers and glaucous stems.
Evening snow is a California native annual found in dry, open areas at low to mid-elevations across the state's grasslands and coastal regions. Flowering from April to June, this delicate plant produces white flowers with light purple margins, creating a distinctive funnel-shaped bloom 2 to 3 centimeters long. Growing 5 to 20 centimeters tall with glaucous (bluish-gray) stems, it has a slender, branching form characteristic of annual wildflowers. Its leaves are finely divided, with 3 to 7 linear lobes each 10 to 22 millimeters long, creating a feathery, intricate foliage structure. The plant's small ellipsoid fruit contains 15 to 28 seeds, which remain compact and dry in the plant's native habitats.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated; large evening flowers and glaucous stems
Habitat and range
California counties: Inyo, Kern, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Fresno, Mariposa, Napa, Mono, San Diego, El Dorado, Tulare, Lake, Sutter, Butte, Tehama, Mendocino, Shasta, Glenn, Merced, Colusa, Stanislaus, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Placer, Contra Costa, Tuolumne, San Mateo, San Joaquin, Alameda, Monterey, Madera, Kings, San Benito, Sacramento, Riverside, Santa Cruz
How to tell it apart
vs Phlox: Linanthus has alternate leaves; Phlox has opposite leaves paired along the stem.; vs Leptosiphon: Linanthus has rigid, sharp leaf tips and nocturnal flowers; Leptosiphon has soft leaf tips and day-blooming flowers.; vs Gilia: Linanthus has wheel-shaped flowers with lobes longer than tube; Gilia has narrow funnel flowers with tube longer than lobes.; vs Coleonema: Linanthus has palm-divided leaves and phlox flowers; Coleonema has needle-like leaves and 5-petaled star flowers.; vs Navarretia: Linanthus has open wheel flowers and non-spiny leaves; Navarretia has tiny tube flowers hidden in spiny bracts.
Frequently asked questions
Is Linanthus dichotomus native to California?
Yes. Linanthus dichotomus is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Linanthus dichotomus grow?
Linanthus dichotomus occurs in Inyo, Kern, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Fresno and other counties.
What plant family does Linanthus dichotomus belong to?
Linanthus dichotomus is in the Polemoniaceae family, genus Linanthus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.